Automatic ratio selector for electrically controlled gear shifting mechanism



G. R. FEIGE L Nov. 12, 1940.

R FOR ELCTRICALLY CONTROLL GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet l AUTOMATIC RATIO SELECTO Filed June 12, 1937 NOV. 12, 1940. Q R FE|GEL 2,220,996

AUTOMATIC RATIO SELECTOR FOR ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM Filed June l2, 1937 V2 SheetS--SheelI 2 wie 1": G6059@ R. agQeL' ww Patented Nov. 12 u194! i STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC RATIO SELECTOR FOR. ELEC- "TmoALLY ooNTnoLLEn GEAR snnfTlNG MEoHANisM George R. Feig'el, Chicago. Ill. Application June 12, 1937, Serial No. 147,938 16 Claims. (Cl. 264-3) My invention relates to electrically controlled to the varying speed of the drive shaft of an automatic gear shifting mechanism and has parautomobile.

ticular utility in connection with systems of the A still further object of my invention is to type of the so-called Bendix-Hudson electricalprovide a simple, inexpensive means, which can ly operated or controlled vacuum transmission be easily installed, and can readily be adapted gear shifter vfor use on automobiles, trucks and for use with electrically controlled vacuum gear similar vehicles. shifting mechanism to effect the automatic shift- Systems of the type wherein the conventional ing'of gears. I hand-gear shift lever is replaced by a iinger- Other objects will become apparent in the light tip control mechanism provided with manual of the following more .detailed description of the selector means in the form of a small lever or seinvention. lo lector switch mounted beneath the. steering In general,k I employ a so-called automatic rawheel have been, known for some considerable tio selector which, as indicated above, may be, time. In conventional form, the selector switch and preferably is, utilized in conjunction with a comprises a small box-like arrangement with a manual selector means such as has been described u series ofv slots arranged therein in the general above generally. As will be seen from the drawconguration of the letter H, a small lever being ings which will be described in detail later hereadapted to be moved into the ve positions which in, the conventional H form of the manual s ecorrespond to the three forward speeds or posilector means is modified to provide an extra tions, the reverse position, and neutral. In opoffset position. When the manual selector lever 20 eration, the clutch pedal of the automobile or is moved to this latter position, it functhe like is depressed, the small leverv of. the mantions to Operate a double two-way switch which ual selecting means is moved with the fingers to breaks the manually controlled circuit., The the desired gear position, the clutch is engaged novel mechanism `of my invention comes into by releasing the clutch pedal and the car is. in. play when the manual selector lever is in the off- 25 gear. The further shifting of gearsis accomset position. As in connection with the manualplished in the same manner, the movement of ly controlled selector means, the automatic shiftthe small lever of the manual selecting means ing of the gears does not take place until the closing electrical circuits which serve to effect clutch is disengaged by depressing the clutch pedthe operation of the actual gear shifting mechal, this, as in the case of the manually controlled 80 anism. a selector mechanism, serving to close switch` means In accordance with my invention, I employ in the lead from the battery. novel mechanism for effecting automatic shift- In general, my novel mechanism` comprises ingl of the gears without the necessity for emmeans which operates in response to the ground ploying manual selector means although it will` speed of the vehicle or the speed of the drive` $5 lbe appreciated, and as is described hereinafter, shaft thereof, said means serving to control the that my mechanism may be employed effectively movement of arotary multi-armedswitch which in conjunction with manual selecting means such closes the proper circuits to'effect the automatic as described hereinabove. y shifting of the gears. Automatic control of the o It is-accordingly one object of my invention tof shifting of the gears is thus exerted over all 40 provide novel means for 'effecting automatic forward positions which, in the case of the conshifting of gears in a transmission system having ventional transmissions for passenger automo- .a plurality of forward speeds. biles, comprisesthree positions, namely, low, sec- Another object of my invention is the provision v ond and high gear, .The 'means for controllingof new and improved mechanism for operating the movement of the rotary multi-armed switch '45 a switch automatically in response to different comprises a Shaft Which iS Operatively COIlneCted speeds of the drive shaft of an automobile or like to the drive shaft or front wheels of the automovehicle whereby the automatic shifting of gears bile or the like through Suitable eearing'r Other is controlled. l means so as to rotatek at a speed `responsive to A further object of my invention is. to prothe'ground speed of the vehicle. Mounted upon 50 vide novel means, including a plurality of springs lthe shaft and rotatable therewith is, preferably, of different strengths which coact with a cam centrifugally operatedjmeans which serves to mechanism and a plurality of depressible stop 4operate a piston and associated cam, the movemembers whereby circuit means are operated to inent of the switch varms 'of the rotary multil control automatically gear shifting in response armed switchbeing effected by the movement of Ni hicle or of the drive shaft thereof in a novel and effective manner which will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings vwherein Fig. 1 is a sectional` Viewr of the mechanism which comprises my automatic ratio selector, parts thereof 'being shown in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a cut-away view showing the arrangement of the piston, cam and associated springs.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the general wiring arrangement for the circuits operating the conventional electrically controlledy vacuum gear shifting mechanism but includes the association therewith of the automatic selector switch which is operated in accordance with my .invention to control the automatic shifting of the gears.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the mechanism for operating the rotary multi-armed switch which closes the proper contacts for effecting the automatic shifting of the gears comprises a drive shaft I0 which is operatively connected to the power transmitting mechanism of the vehicle not shown) so'as to rotate at a speed re sponsive-to the speed of the vehicle. A satisfactory connection may also be made to the front wheel through suitable gearing, as for example, such as is employed in driving speedometers. The drive shaft I0 is mounted in a bearing preferably integral with one part I2 of av bi-part housing I3, the two parts of the `housing being suitably clamped together as, for

example, by means of bolt and nut assemblies I4. Keyed or otherwise locked to the shaft II] is a centrifugal governor I6 which comprises a head I1 to which the shaft |60 is iixedly connected so as to be rotatable therewith. Pivoted to head |1 at |8 and I9 is a pair of weight arms 2| and 22 each of which is provided with a preferably integral pusher arm 23 and 24..-

As shown in Fig. 1, the arms of the centrifugal governor have the general arrangement of bellcrank levers. N

The forward end of the housing I3 is shaped to provide cylindrical sections 26 and 21, the

section 26 having a greater diameter than the' section 21 and being separated therefrom by a shoulder 28. `Mounted for sliding movement in thesection 26 is a piston 29 and arranged for sliding movement in the section 21 is a cam 3|. As will be seen from Figs. 1 and 2, the piston 29 is generally hollow and the cam 3| is connected -to the inner end of said piston 29 so as to be movable together. If desired, the piston 29 and cam 3| may be made integral or of a plurality of parts suitably interconnected or arranged so as' to be movable together in their respective sections. Y

Encircling the inner end of the cam 3| is a plurality of compression springs, in this case two in number since the embodiment disclosed relates to a transmission system having three forward speeds, the primary spring 32 being lighter or weaker lthan thesecondary spring 33 for a purpose soon to be described. One end of the spring 32 rests against the inner end of the piston 29 and'the other end of said spring rest'sy againstthe shoulder 28. It will be4 seen,

' therefore, that the piston 29 is normallyA urged to the right in the illustration of Fig. 1. The

end of the secondary spring 33 abuts, the other end of said spring resting against the innerend of the piston 29 in the lsame way that one end of the spring 32 rests thereagainst. Asis shown clearly in Fig. 2, the sleeve 34 is provided with a slot for a portion of its length -within which is a stop member 31 fixed to the cam 3| so as to limit the movement of the sleeve on the cam. The spring 33 normally urges the sleeve to the left as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The camv 3| is provided at its forward end with a pin 38 which moves in a slot 39 formed in a wall of the section 21 and the pin 38 is operatively connected to a lever 4| which, inrturn, operates the rotary switch 42. It will thus be seen'that the movement of the cam 3| in the section 21- embodiment illustrated, vas stated above, being for the operation of a transmission having three forward speeds, two such apertures are provided. Within each of these apertures are disposed resilently mounted depressible stop members 41 and 48. The stop member 41is normally urged into the section 21 by means of a spring 49 and the assembly of the spring and stop member is held in place by screw or member 5| screw threaded into the portion 43 of the housing I3. The stop member 48 is mounted in the same manner as in the case of the stop member 41. A third, but rigid, stop member 52 is mounted to project into the section 52. It will be noted that the stop members 41 and 48 normally slightly project into the section 21 and that the projecting portion has a beveled surface in order to facilitate depressing the same when the cam moves thereagainst.

Mounted adjacent the centrifugal governor I6 and in contact with the extremities of the pusher arms 23 and 24 is a thrust plate' 53 and mounted therebetween and the piston 29 is a ball thrust bearing 54.

Figure 3 illustrates diagrammatically the elecsolenoid operated valves 65,66 and 61 are sim--` ilar to those in the system referred to hereinabove. The selector or manual vcontrol 68 is generally conventional in form but is modified to include an extraA slot or position 69 which,

when the lever 1| is shifted thereinto, closes the automatically controlled circuit through the conductors 12 and 13 and breaks the manually controlled circuit through the operation of a double two-way switch 14. As shown in Figure 3, the movement of the lever 1| to the extreme left so as to engage in slot 69 forces the rod 16 against 'the bar 11 which, in turn, forces the flexible conductor `arms or plates 18 and 19 towards the left and in contact with the bar 3| thereby closing the automatic circuit and breaking the manual circuit, it being understood that the bars 32 and 33' are held rigidly. The removal la of the lever 1| from the slot v69 breaks the auto-- the electrical circuits which control the shifting of gears are automatically operated when the lever 1l is in slot 33. In View of the fact that the electrical circuits which are opened and closed 22 by the operation of the switch 42 are essentially y similar to those operated by the manual control, a description thereof does not appear to be necessary.

It is believed that the operation of the novel structure of my invention is clear in the light of the foregoing description.n However, I shall describe the manner in which the same operates to control automatically and in a simple and effec- "i" tern of the type heretofore described.

Assuming that the automobile or other vehicle is at rest, the selector lever 1| is placed in the slot 69. In this state, the arms 33 and 94 of the rotary switch 42 are in a position for the shift du into low speed. I'his shift takes place as soon as the .clutch operated switch is closed, namely, by depressing the clutch pedal. On release ofthe clutch pedal, or in other-words vwhen the clutch engages, the accelerator is gradually depressed it and the automobile will move forward in first speed. As the speed of the vehicle increases, the shaft I3, the speed of rotation of which is responsive to the ground speed of the vehicle, ro-

' tates more rapidly. The weight arms 2| and 22A abutment against the stop 48, due to the low re-V sistance offered by the relatively weak spring 32, is very rapid as distinguished from a slow, progressive movement such as results from an uncon. trolledgovernor.l This is a very important .aspect 1 the stops. .The depressble stop 48 holds the slid- 65 ing cam 3| until'suilicientforce has been built es of my invention since it is imperative for completely proper functioning that at no time shall all of the circuits controlled through the rotaryA the rotary switch is, rapid, -thus leaving the cir'-,-

zu cuits open for only a brief instant;

minals on the switch 42,' as shown in Figure 3,

tive way the automatic shifting of gears in a sys- K When the cam 3|`h`as :lumped from its normal position into contact with the depressible stop member t3 and has been halted thereby, the arms 33 and 34 of the rotary. switch are in a position to permit the electrically controlled vacuum gear l shifter to shift the gears of the vehicle into second forward speed, the movement of the switch arms of the rotary switch t2 being effected by the movemento'f the lever 4| which swings to the left by virtue .of its connection with the pin 3B atl0 tached to the cam 3|. The clutch pedal is again dlepressed and the shift into second speed takes p ace.

' As the speed of the vehicle increases, for ex`- ample, to fifteen miles per hour, the centrifugal 'l5 force becomes sufficiently greatfor the cam 3| to depress the stop 48 and jump rapidly into contact with the stop 52. In so moving, the weight and pusher arms 2|, 22, 23 and 24, the thrust plate E3, and the sliding cam 3| assume the posi'- 20 tions shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, overcoming the resistance of the primary and secondary springs 32 and 33 and the friction of the depressible stops against the cam. When the head of the cam 3| abuts the stop 52, the arms 93 and 2l' 94 ofthe rotary switch 42 are in position for the shift into third forward speed, such being accomplished, upon depressing the clutch pedal, through the operation of the solenoid 61. It will be noted that when the head of the sliding cam 3| abuts against the stationary stop 52, the depressible stop t1 rises and enters the groove 40 of the cam 3|, therelzrv" maintaining the cam 3| in its position cori'esponding to third forward speed.

When the vehicle decelerates to a speed of, for example, ten-:miles per hour or less, the released energy of the compression` primary and secondarysprings 32 and .33 is great enough to depress the stop 41 whereby the sliding cam 3| 40 snaps or moves rapidly to the right, as shown in Figure 1, to a. position corresponding to second forward speed. When the vehicle is brought to a. stop or slows down to asuicient extent, which' is determined by the strength of the primary 45 spring 82, the cam 3| returns to its low speed position by virtue of the' release of the energy of the primary spring 32.

The purpose behind the employment of primary and secondary springs of different compression strengths to resist the force exerted I'by the centrifugal governor is believed to be clear.v The primary spring 32 is relatively light or weak'and its chief function is to return thev sliding cam 3| to a position corresponding to first forward speed. The secondary spring 33 functions only between second and third forward speeds and serves to .return the' sliding cam 3| from third forward speed to second forward speed.

The purpose behind. the use-'of the depressible ,60'1

stops41 and 48 is likewise thought evident in the light of the foregoing description.. As stated,

these stops, coacting with the springs 32 and 33, prevent the sliding cam 3| from lingering between up to compress the primary and secondary springs 32 and 33 to `therequired extent. Thedepresf sible stop 41 `holds the sliding cam 3| from' returning to normal `position until the force exerted by the centrifugal governer becomes sufficiently f low so that the secondary and primary springs 33 and 32, respectively, can 'move the required distance at a single stroke. It will be understood'that there is adirect 7 5 relationship between the strengths of the springs 32 and 33 and those which urge the stop members 41 and 48 upwardly, namely, the spring4 49 and the corresponding spring which coacts with stop member 48. The strengths of the springs selected will govern the rapidity with which the cam 3l jumps between the stop members and the strengths of these springs will also control' the speed at which the shift from first to second and from second to third forward speeds takes place.v

Those skilled ini the art will be able to select springs of the proper strength and relationship.

to each other in order to effect the proper funcvtions desired.

While the novel mechanism of my invention has been illustrated in conjunction with a transmission system having three forward sp'eeds, it will be appreciated that the principles of my invention can .be adapted to transmission sys-- tems having a pluralityof forward speeds in ex.

cess of three.- In such cases, it will be understood that the number of vsprings of different compressive strengths which surround the cam member willincrease in proportion to the increase in the number of forward speeds of the transmission system.

While I have described my invention in considerable detaiL'it will be understoodV that the disclosure is to be taken in a descriptive and not in a limitative sense, the scope of lthe invention being set out in the claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Apparatus of the character describedcomprising power means, centrifugal governor means 'driven by said power means, a piston provided with a sliding cam, said piston and sliding cam being moved .responsive to the actuation of the centrifugal governor, said piston having a larger diameter than said sliding cam, slideways within which said piston andsaidsliding cam are adapted to move longitudinally, a plurality of springs of different compressive strengths sur-- rounding said sliding cam, a plurality of spaced spring pressed stop members mounted to engage said sliding cam'and be depressed thereby, and a pin attached to said sliding cam.

-2. Apparatus of the character Adescribed comprising power means, a housing including cylindrical sections of different diameters separated by a shoulder and within which sections a generally hollow piston and an interconnected cam member are mounted for reciprocatory motion, the piston having a larger diameter than the cam member, a first compression spring encircling said .cam member and disposed between said shoulder and the inner 'end of said piston, a second compression spring encircling said cam member and disposedbetween an abutment on said cam member and the inner end of said piston, said second compression spring having greater strength than said first compression spring, two spaced spring pressed stop members each of which is adapted to be depressed by said cam member, said cam member being provided with a groove in its surface which is engaged by one of said stop members when the cam member is in its furthermost ad- "vanced position, and means responsive tothe verse movement of said piston and cam member.

3.l Apparatus of -the character described comlprising a piston provided with a cam, said piston u and cam being adapted for reciprocatory movevprising power means,

ment longitudinally of their axes, a plurality of `springs of different compressive strengths encircling said cam, a plurality of spaced spring pressed stop members mounted to engage said cam during stages of its longitudinal movement, and means responsive to the speed of said power means for controlling the forward movement of said piston and cam, the reverse movement thereof being controlled by said encircling springs..

4. An automatic ratio selector for electrically controlled gear shifting mechanism comprising a cam member and means within which said cam member reciprocates longitudinally of its axis, two springs of diiferent'compressive strengths encircling said cam member, two spring pressed stop members mounted to engage said cam member during stages of its longitudinal movement, and means for advancing said cam member in a forward direction against the action of said encircling springs.

5. An automatic ratio selector for electrically controlled gear shifting mechanism comprising a slideway, a cam member mounted for reciprocatory movement longitudinally of its axis in said slideway, a piston operatively connected to said cam member and movable therewith, twor springs of different compressive strengthsl encircling said cam member, 'two resiliently mount- .ed stop members so arranged as normally to pro- 6. Apparatus of the character described comcentrifugal governor means driven by said power means, a piston provided with a sliding cam, slideways within which said piston and said sliding cam are vadapted to move longitudinally, a plurality of springs of different compressive strengths surrounding said sliding cam, and a plurality of spaced springA pressed stop members mounted to engage said sliding cam and be depressed thereby, the forward movement of 'said piston and sliding cam being` I effected by said governor me'ans and the reversemovement thereof being controlled by said surrounding springs, the spring pressed stop members and the surrounding springs being so constructed and arranged that the sliding cam jumps rapidly between the stop members in response to predetermined speeds of said power means.

- 7. Apparatus of the character described comvprising power means, a housing, a slidably mounted cam disposed in said housing, two coml pression springs of different strengths encircling part of saidcam, means for moving said cam in a forward direction longitudinally of its axis and against the action of said springs, two spaced spring pressed stop members adapted to be engaged and` depressed by said cam, a third stop member; and a groove in said cam adapted to be engaged by one of said spring pressed stop members when the cam is in its furthermost advanced position, the spring pressed stop members and said compression springs being so constructed andarranged that the cani jumps rapidly between the stopmembers in response to predetermined speeds of said power means.

8. Apparatus of the character described comprising power means, va housing, a slidably mounted cam disposed in said housing, two compression two spaced spring pressed stop members adapted to be engaged and depressed by said cam, and a third stop member, the spring pressed stop members and said compression springs being so cons tructed and arranged that the cam jumps rap'- `idly between-the stop members in response to prei end of said piston, a vsecond compression spring encircling said cam member and disposed between an abutment on said cam member and the inner end of said piston, said second compression spring having greater strength than said first compression spring, two spaced 4spring pressed stop members each of which is adapted to be depressed by said cam member and one of which is in constant contact with said cam member, said cam member being provided with a groove in its surface which is engaged by said last-mentioned spring pressed stop member when the cam member is in its furthermost advanced position, and means responsive-to the speed of the power means for controlling the forward movement of the piston and cam member, the compression springs normally urging the reverse movement of said piston and cam member.

10. Apparatus of the character described comprising a propeller shaft, means providing cylindrical sections of different diameters separated by a shoulder and within which sections a generally hollow piston and an interconnected cam member are mounted for reciprocatory motion, the piston having a larger diameter than the cam member, a first compression spring encircling said cam member and disposed between said shoulder and the inner end of said piston, a sleeveencircling said cam member and having limiting sliding movement therealong, said sleeve being provided with a shoulder, a second compression spring encircling said sleeve and disposed between the shoulder on said sleeve and the inner end of said piston, said second compression spring having greater strengththansaid first compression spring, two spaced spring pressed stop members each of which is adapted to be depressed by said cam member, said cam member being provided with a groove in its surface which is engaged by one of said stop members when the cam member is in its furthermost advanced position, and means responsive to the speed of the propeller shaft for controlling the-forward movement of thepiston andcam member, the compression springs normally urging the reverse'movement of 5 said piston and cam member, the spring pressed stop members and said compression springs being so constructed and arranged that the cam jumps,

rapidly between the stop members in response to predetermined speeds of said propeller shaft.

11. Apparatus of the character described com- I prising a piston provided witha cam, 4said piston and cam being adapted for reciprocatory movement longitudinally of their axes, two` springs of different compressive strengths encircling said cam. two spaced spring pressed stop members `mounted to engage said cam duringstages of its longitudinal movement, and means responsive to the speed of said power means for controlling the forward movement of said piston and cam, vthe reverse movement thereof being controlled by said encircling springs, the spring pressed `stop members and said compression springs being so constructed and arranged that the cam jumps rapidly between the s'topmembers ln response to predetermined speeds of said powermeans.-

' 12. An automatic ratio selector for electrically controlledgear shifting mechanism comprising a cam member and means within which said cam member reciprocates longitudinally of its axis, a first spring encircling said cam member, asleeve surrounding a part of said cam member and having limited slidable movement thereon, an abutment on said sleeve, a second spring encircling said sleeve `and one end of which spring rests against said abutment, said second spring being stronger than said first spring, two spring pressed stop members mounted to engage said cam member Vduring stages 'of its longitudinal movement,

and means for advancing said cam member in a forward direction against the action of said encircling springs.

13. An automatic ratio selector for electrically said slldeway to engage said cam member at stages of its movement therein, a second resiliently mounted stop member in constant contact with said cam member, a groove in said cam member in which said second stop member ls adapted to engage when said cam member is in its furthermost advanced position, and means for advancing the cam member in said slideway against the action of said encircling springs.

14. Apparatus of the character described comprising a piston provided with a cam, said piston and cam being mounted for reciprocatory movement longitudinally of their axes, two spaced spring pressed stop members mounted to engage and be depressed by said cam during stages'of its longitudinal movement, and two springs of different compressive strengths cooperating with said cam and said stop members to eiect rapid movement of said cam between the stop members.

15. Apparatus of the character described comprising a slidably mounted cam, at least two-resilient members having different degrees of resiliency, means for moving said cam in a forward direction longitudinally of its axis and against the action of said resilient members, and a plurality of resiliently mounted stop members adapted to be engaged and depressed by said cam.

16. An automatic ratio selector for automatic gear shifting mechanism comprising a. cam member=and means within which said cam member reciprocal-,es longitudinally of its axis. two resil- 

